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M hereas in the time of the late usurper, there was neither shipping fitt forsuch private adventurers, nor persons either able, or willing to undertake it,or if they had, they would have been suspected by Iiim to have some otherdcsigne, all that was then in favour or trust being persons only shirkingupon the publicq.

A second great reason was, during the former warr, the Hollanders mu-tually engaged with us in that warr against Spaine, with whom there wasthen noe hopes of reconciliation : whereas, in the latter warr, the Hol-landers being mitral], and yett more jealouse of our rivallship in tradewith them, supplyed the Spaniards with such great proportions both ofsloping and men, upon their own adventure, with Spanish commissions,under the notions of Flemmings; that they did the nation more damageunder that coloured peace, than during the open warr before, whilst thisnation having noe such colourable pretence, could not take their shippingwithout open breach of the peace but a little before made with them.Nor can it be imaginable, that for the advantage of their own trade, theywill not be ready to doe the like for any nation with which hereafter hisMajesty may have a breach, and how much more encouragement it maybe to any enemy to make warr upon us, when they’ shall know what theutmost strength of the king’s navy is, which possibly may not be difficultto gaine intelligence of, knowing there arc little or noe recruites to be ex-pected from his subjects’shiping, as heretofore there were, when there weresuch numerous warrlikc ships in the merchants employment, whereof theycould make noe computation.

Since, therefore, the whole navall force of this nation is now comprisedwithin the kings arsenal], and the whole charge, both for defence of thekingdome, and protection of trade, is out of the kirng’s revenue only, howmuch ought it to be attempted to encourage or enjo>ine each company ofmerchants to build two or three ships every year aft least, whereby in 20years more, it may be possible to recover what in 20> years wee have lost.Yol. I. k It